Review of SAT practice run

Reading and grading an essay in three minutes is obviously fast. To be able to carry this operation out, you need to be quick and decisive. As I read numerous times, many people felt rushed in the 25 minutes they had. Rushing through writing isn't good. The ideas get dissolved into one another, you may repeat yourself, leave out a key thought, quote, sentence, etc. Just take a second and look from the perspective of the grader. From the visualization activity, we have all learned that the graders are on the verge of snapping, so make it easy on them. Try to be simple. Each part of your easy needs to be a solid idea, perspective, or example. I noticed, since we all felt a bit rushed, some people had trouble with the flow of the language (guilty). I recommend an outline that you spent a few minutes on before you started to write so that you can refer back to it during your essay. I believe we all can get our answers from the prompt, and that organization will be key. Once in a while look at your paper from a broad perspective. These steps will help in your overall quality.

PWB: Lexicographer

In class we have started to read the Poisonwood Bible (PWB). We chat about it with small literature circles of about three people. Everyone has a job of some sort.

I am the lexicographer of the group. This means that whenever myself of my group members see a word they don't recognize or understand, I will take note of it. I look up the definitions of the words and then I start collecting! I imagine that these words will be useful in the studies for SATs, and to benefit everyone, I would like to share the words, so I have made my box of the words on my sidebar. Enjoy!

Practice Essay

Today in class we practiced our essay writing. Bear with me on this one, I rushed a bit and maybe go my ideas mixed around.

Newspapers, television, magazines, radio, movies, the internet, and other types of media do determine whats important for many people that are curious and crave the knowledge and events that go on outside of their own lives.
A source said, "[The media] Decide what information is important".
These people in which I just described want and need to know things that they havn't witnessed or havn't seen. The media supplies them with what seems to be sufficient information which curbs their appetite for outside knowledge. THis information has so many points of view and perspectives on various subjects, which can easily be adopted as "important" to a person.
On the other hand, many others don't even look in the direction of the media. Many people understand that the media can be untrustworthy and false many times. These people therefore do not label the knowledge that they recieve as important to them, since in a sense it can't be proven to them. Other people don't look in the direction of the media in a literal sense as well. Not paying attention and ridding yourself of the media is certainly tough, yet these people are more in favor of basing importance on their experiences that are around their individual lives. They chose not to be deendent on information and knowledge hat comes in from outside sources.
It all comes down to a choice. Media isn't built physically into our minds or bodies. It's an outside factor which can be chosen as worthy or not. If you look deep into the depths of media, its easy to accept its knowledge and perspectives as a possible importance to yourself. Choosing not to look inside will result in your different importances in life being derived strictly from your individual actions and beliefs.

A quick reflection

Looking back on my posts at this point, I have noticed that it helps to talk or write about things to get a better idea or thought about certain subjects. My essential questions that I have produced have been; What kind of world do we live in? How can I live in this world? What can others benefit from me? I have addressed all of these questions in one post or another. I have learned a few things writing about experiences, videos and text we have seen in and around class. One thing I have known/learned/looked furthur into is one type of world we live in. We live in a sketchy world. I looked into this when I wrote one of my more recent peices, "Homeless". I can't surely trust anyone, not even a man that looks like he is in dire need for shelter and food. Again, it is sad that you can barely help the guy because of worrying about your own protection. The world we live in has formulated a certain shield around us all that protects us from people we don't know. I had also learned more about myself, in a way that betters my understanding about various things. Listening to "This I Believes" and also making my own has really effected me in a good way. The perspectives I got from other people is invaluable. I dug deeper into feelings, mostly into passion. I have learned about my environment much more from writing in a way in which I can converse with my peers in a very open way (blogger). Hopefully this knowledge will keep coming in future posts and conversation.

Natural Elements

As many people know, I spend a good amount of my time on the course. For most people the sport, and word golf conjures up a certain image or thought, probably not to descriptive about the game at all since that person does not obtain a substantial amount of knowledge of the game or what is involved in it. For me, I think it is an awesome thing to be descriptive about, especially since I have experienced things most people can never experience.
I think the word behind descriptive is passion. I believe that passion can lead further into various things for various people. For me, it helps me invoke deeper into the sport of golf.
From above, I am little. The vast area of a golf course is monumental compared to a player that decides to take this creature of nature on. It has been perfected by many brilliant minds, and to take it on by yourself, well lets just say it has been previously dubbed a crazed action. Preparation is a necessity. I take out a ball that has been previously hacked about, knowing by the grass and dirt stains that have given this once new ball a different shade. I become intertwined with the same elements as I put the ball in play, and vice versa. Dirt becomes embedded in my fingernails and palms. I all of a sudden am trying to blend in with the course, trying to become one so that I have a better chance of escaping its grip that tightens, as I tighten my own. My hands are frequently callused from the harsh, roped grip. I guess you can say the creature is vicious, yet, at times it is innocent with its lush greenery that decieves you of its once harsh qualities. A suggested early morning start can open you up to a different course and personality. The air is brisk and the ground soft and wet as the dew drops slowly evaporate to reveal whats under the skin. I still play whether I am afraid or not. It is a sport that gets as natural as it gets. The ball soaks up the morning dew as it inscribes a path into the young grass. The hole is simply a hole. An imperfection? Quite the opposite. It displays what you don't normally see. Fresh earth is something not noted by the casual glance. As I repeatedly reach into the hole, I notice the beauty of the land. Rich with life, the brown dirt suddenly sprouts into a small greenery which is treasured. It is funny that only the top of the land is wanted, and we invent solutions that are used to rid our lives of that brown natural source. To be clean? Maybe not. Sometimes it is a shame not to share commonalities with the course. I just hope that my connections could be experienced by the people that do not do the same as I. They probably do, of course in a different way. i wonder if the feeling is the same?

Homeless

Its sad when I look at a beggar or a homeless person, and I need to question if he really is someone who is homeless and in need, or if he is a fake, just trying to rip people of their cash. What led up to this point? Why can't I see a beggar and say this money will definatly go to a good cause in helping this poor guy out. Is this skeptism a bad thing? Is it just me? I think that the reason this happened is obviously because some jokers do try to cheat us of our hard earned cash. I drove up next to a beggar the other day by Kahala Mall. I wanted to give him something for some reason. I never give beggars anything because of what I said above. The light was still red and I just remembered I had a huge box of Nutri-Grain bars in the backseat (Costco of course). I grabbed one from the back and was ready to open the window. My plan was to crack the window, and throw the bar to him as the light turned green. I didn't exactly want to hang around after I gave it to him, so I did as I planned. Making the U turn around his post, I heard a "GOD BLESS YA MAN!" It didn't make me feel any different. I am still unsure if he was really homeless and had no food. Do I feel good about it? I'm not sure. The questioning of his authenticity really kills the good deal feeling for me. I wish I could be more sure that my money goes to a good cause.

this I believe

I believe in golf courses. Most American courses are strategically designed with specifically placed bunkers and trees, with manicured slopes around the greens whose job is to suck your golf ball 20 yards from your target. European designes, which are closer to an original layout of a golf course, are built upon the earth with the upmost simplicity. Throw down some tee markers, cut a bit of grass far away, and dig a hole in it. It is such a different experience that takes such a different style of gameplay to master. The two opposite architectual designs lead me to recognize the needed balance between these two metaphorical ways to live my everyday life. Life in one way needs structure. It needs goals, plans of acheivement, and specific actions of accomplishment. This overall plan in life can take you to your potential in whatever you want to do. In order to succeed, you need this characteristic of finding and knowing a specific plan of action for yourself. It is a neccesity to know what you are able to acheive. This is all similar to my strategy when taking on an "Americanized"course. On the other hand, I need the opposite, the balance. If there is stress, you need relaxation, which is the simplist of the two. In this aspect of the game and also in being an aspect of the game of life, I belive you get in touch with different senses and feelings, especially ones that are incorporated within yourself that are attache dto a more casual side. Usually I learn more about myself in these situations, and also see the (w)hole a little bit clearer. It is not only for a cleansing kind of use, but is mostly for a recharging purpose, to get energy and strength back from what you lost by following your pre-layed tracks to life. I believe in golf courses, and how they can teach me a well balanced guide to life, as I get more learning opportunities and a better feel for myself and the world I live in.